March 7, 2003

The MGH community was met with more sad news March 5 when an iron worker was killed in a tragic accident on the construction site of the hospital's new ambulatory care building. Christopher MacInnis, 30, who was part of the team erecting the frame of the building, was struck and killed by a steel beam that fell from above him. Boston emergency medical workers and firefighters responded to the incident, and MacInnis was taken to the MGH Emergency Department where he died.

"The thoughts and prayers of the entire hospital community go out to Christopher's family and friends as well as his coworkers," said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH.

A support center was set up immediately in the Blum Patient and Family Learning Center for MacInnis' family and the construction team. The MGH and Walsh Brothers Construction have been working together to investigate the cause jof the accident. Local, state and federal agencies were notified immediately, and officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) came to the site to review the incident.

"We are all shell shocked," said Richard Walsh, vice president of Walsh Construction. "We are such a close family here at the MGH. All the guys working on the project knew Chris, and he was well liked, in fact, he was a favorite. We are all totally devastated by this accident, and the hospital has been great in reaching out to the family and the construction team during this terrible tragedy."

This incident follows on the heels of the nightclub fire in Rhode Island, from which the MGH received some of the most severely burned patients, as well as the tragic death of a beloved MGH employee — Ricardo Diaz — during the blizzard Feb. 18.

"The last few weeks at the hospital have been the most difficult I've seen in my career here," Slavin said. "However, I've never seen the spirit of this place stronger. Everyone has rallied together to take care of these situations and make sure that every patient continues to receive the highest quality care. It truly has been an inspiration to be a part of such a talented and caring group of individuals. I have never been prouder of this institution."